Southern Fried True Crime

Erica Kelley is a native Tennessean exploring historical and contemporary true crime in the South. Southern charm is attempted but southern sass is bountiful. Join her as she shows you just how southern fried the justice system can be in the Deep South.

Barbara Ford Stager is known as the Black Widow of North Carolina. She shot two husbands, ten years apart, as they lay sleeping in their marital beds. Her trial was an international sensation, with the media capitalizing on her femme fatale, man eating image. But is that all there is to Barbara’s story?Sponsors: Noom.com & BeautyByDesign.comPromo: Dark Side OfSuggested Reading: Before He Wakes: A True Story of Marriage, Sex & Murder by Jerry Bledsoe:https://www.amazon.com/Before-He-Wakes-Marriage-Murder-ebook/dp/B00KFIH6RM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Before+He+Wakes&qid=1558725654&s=gateway&sr=8-1I’ll be in New Orleans for CrimeCon this year! It’s June 7-9th. To buy your ticket, use promo code FRIEDCRIME19. I hope to see y’all there!Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radiohttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://whatamaneuver.net/collections/southern-fried-true-crime (merch shop)@southfriedtruth (Twitter) @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)

Marty Markowitz had his share of problems. His parents had recently died. He had troubles at work. A failing relationship. He needed someone to help him through this rough patch in his life. So he decided to get some professional help from a psychiatrist. What he did not count on, was what happened in his life over the next twenty-nine years.This is a story about power, control, and turning to the wrong person for help. Listen now at wondery.fm/fried

In 1999, a seventeen year old girl named Jessica Dishon was abducted out of her driveway in Shepherdsville, Kentucky as she was leaving for school. Though a rookie sheriff’s deputy tried to sound the alarm, a senior detective refused to come to the scene, dismissing her as a runaway. That mistake would kick off an egregious mishandling of the case, that included accusing an innocent neighbor with no real evidence. It would take fifteen years to bring Jessica’s real killer to justice. He was a serial pedophile, who had abused six children in the Dishon family.Sponsor: Scentbird.comPromo: CriminologyEpisode suggested by: Chelsea BiggersI’ll be in New Orleans for CrimeCon this year! It’s June 7-9th. To buy your ticket, use promo code FRIEDCRIME19. I hope to see y’all there!Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radiohttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://whatamaneuver.net/collections/southern-fried-true-crime (merch shop)@southfriedtruth (Twitter) @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)

In 1948, a Delta Mississippi socialite named Ruth Thompson Dickins, hacked her mother to death with gardening shears. She blamed the murder on a “negro” man she claimed attacked her as well. But a jury of 12 white men didn’t believe her, in Mississippi, in 1949. That fact alone is incredible. But with her prominent family, wealthy and aggressive “cotton man” husband and the backing of the elite white people of her town and county, the governor of Mississippi was finally badgered into suspending her sentence after she served only six years. Sponsor: AwayTravel.com | MyLola.comPromo: Going West: True Crime PodcastI’ll be in New Orleans for CrimeCon this year! It’s June 7-9th. To buy your ticket, use promo code FRIEDCRIME19. I hope to see y’all there!Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radiohttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://whatamaneuver.net/collections/southern-fried-true-crime (merch shop)@southfriedtruth (Twitter) @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)

In August of 2008, the small town of Springfield, Georgia was shaken by a double murder in one of the town’s most prominent families. Soon, the full story would come out. That one brother was sleeping with another brother’s wife, causing a family tragedy of almost Biblical proportions. Sponsor: StoryWorth.comI’ll be in New Orleans for CrimeCon this year! It’s June 7-9th. To buy your ticket, use promo code FRIEDCRIME19. I hope to see y’all there!Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radiohttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://whatamaneuver.net/collections/southern-fried-true-crime (merch shop)@southfriedtruth (Twitter) @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)

In June of 2013, a 21 year old Vanderbilt student was gang raped in a dorm room by four football players. She was an unofficial hostess, one of the pretty girls coaches use to “assist” in player recruiting. She had no memory of the event, but her attackers had filmed and photographed it on their cell phones. They were also caught on security footage carrying her unconscious body into the dorm. The implications of this case affected Tennessee state law regarding public records, caused a Title IX investigation into Vanderbilt University and is emblematic of the continued, insidious rape culture rampant on American college campuses. Suggested reading: coverage by Tennessean reporter, Stacy Barchenger, Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power and Consent on Campus by Vanessa Grigoriadis and the long form article by Jessica Luther for Sport Illustrated called A Look at Complex Vanderbilt Rape Case that Left a Community ReelingSponsors for this episode: GreenChef.us & Swap.comI’ll be in New Orleans for CrimeCon this year! It’s June 7-9th. To buy your ticket, use promo code FRIEDCRIME19. I hope to see y’all there!Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radiohttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://whatamaneuver.net/collections/southern-fried-true-crime (merch shop)@southfriedtruth (Twitter) @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)

In June of 1985, residents of the Midland area of South Carolina were frozen in fear. Two girls were kidnapped and murdered and the sadistic man responsible relished in making phone calls to one of the families. This is part two of the case of serial killer Larry Gene Bell, covering the abduction and murder of nine year old Debra May Helmick and the investigation into both murders. I also discuss the trials for both murders, and the execution of Larry Gene Bell. I’ll be in New Orleans for CrimeCon this year! It’s June 7-9th. To buy your ticket, use promo code FRIEDCRIME19. I hope to see y’all there!Today’s Sponsors: https://www.scentbird.com | https://www.withcove.comPlease read former SLED Lieutenant Rita Shuler’s incredible book on the case: Murder in the Midlands: Larry Gene Bill and the 28 Days of Terror that Shook South Carolina:https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Midlands-Larry-Terror-Carolina-ebook/dp/B00XQK6SAM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=murder+in+the+midlands&qid=1554756026&s=gateway&sr=8-1 https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781596292505 And also Shari Faye’s sister, Dawn Smith Jordan’s book, Grace So Amazing:https://www.amazon.com/Grace-So-Amazing-Life-ShatteringTragedy/dp/0891076999/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=Grace+so+Amazing&qid=1555717459&s=gateway&sr=8-2And Shari Faye Smith’s mother, Hilda Smith also wrote a book:https://www.amazon.com/Rose-Shari-Hilda-Cartrette-Smith/dp/1592860516/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=A+Rose+for+Shari&qid=1555717369&s=gateway&sr=8-1-spellWatch an ID Go show called I, Witness and see Dawn Elizabeth Smith Jordan recount her sister’s case:https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/i-witness/full-episodes/the-smith-sisters?utm_source=idsgo&utm_medium=redirect This is the TV movie based on Shari Faye’s case that was originally titled Nightmare in Columbia County:https://www.netflix.com/title/70206826https://www.amazon.com/Victim-Beauty-Nightmare-Columbia-County/dp/B00MQMOWPE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1MR5UBMW60Q1N&keywords=victim+of+beauty&qid=1555717625&s=instant-video&sprefix=Victim+of+Be%2Caps%2C173&sr=1-1Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radiohttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://whatamaneuver.net/collections/southern-fried-true-crime (merch shop)@southfriedtruth (Twitter) @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)

In June of 1985, residents of the Midland area of South Carolina were frozen in fear. Two girls were kidnapped and murdered and the sadistic man responsible relished in making phone calls to one of the families. This is part one of two episodes on the crimes of Larry Gene Bell. I’ll be in New Orleans for CrimeCon this year! It’s June 7-9th. To buy your ticket, use promo code FRIEDCRIME19. I hope to see y’all there!Today’s Sponsors: swap.com/southernfried | noom.com/southernfried | TakeCareof.com (promo code southern fried)Suggested reading for today’s episode: Murder in the Midlands: Larry Gene Bill and the 28 Days of Terror that Shook South Carolina:https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Midlands-Larry-Terror-Carolina-ebook/dp/B00XQK6SAM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=murder+in+the+midlands&qid=1554756026&s=gateway&sr=8-1 https://www.arcadiapublishing.com/Products/9781596292505Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radiohttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://whatamaneuver.net/collections/southern-fried-true-crime (merch shop)@southfriedtruth (Twitter) @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)

In December of 2004, a beautiful young graduate student was brutally stabbed in her apartment. Her roommate was also attacked. He ran to a convenience store and called 911. Johnia Berry crawled, bleeding from her own apartment, and knocked on the five neighbor’s doors around her. No one answered. Paramedics got there while she was still alive but she died at the hospital. Unknown DNA was found at the crime scene. But there was no match in the database. There wouldn’t be a match made for almost three years. During that time, her parents lobbied for the Johnia Berry Act. It was signed into law in 2007 and it requires anyone arrested for a felony in Tennessee to be automatically swabbed for DNA. This is just one Johnia’s legacies. Today’s Sponsor: Shudder.com/southernfried | Today’s Promo: Parcast’s SurvivalI’ll be in New Orleans for CrimeCon this year! It’s June 7-9th. To buy your ticket, use promo code FRIEDCRIME19. I hope to see y’all there!Written, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radiohttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://whatamaneuver.net/collections/southern-fried-true-crime (merch shop)@southfriedtruth (Twitter) @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)

My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayerCan serve my turn? Forgive me my foul murder?These words, from Shakespeare’s Hamlet, spurred a confession from a teenage murderess. Sixteen year old Marie Robards, of Fort Worth Texas, poisoned her own father, because she preferred to live with her beloved mother. Episode suggested by Erica Lae of the gone cold podcastToday’s Sponsor: Noom.com/southernfriedWritten, hosted and produced by Erica KelleyOriginal Graphic Art by Coley Horner Original Music by Rob Harrison of Gamma Radiohttps://southernfriedtruecrime.comhttps://www.patreon.com/southernfriedtruecrimehttps://www.facebook.com/southernfriedtruecrimesouthfriedtruth (Twitter) @southernfriedtruecrime (Insta)

Amie Webster

Zoë McGinnis

Amie Webster

Omg so weird to hear my town in this! And I'd never heard of this case!

May 21st

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Trent Almir Smith

I didn't ask for a Liberal Party election advertisement at the beginning of the podcast. Thank you!

May 17th

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Aaron Zietsch

Trent Almir Smith Liberal party win for another three years bahahaha

May 22nd

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Bogies Uncle

Trent Almir Smith There's a fantastic feature called "fast forward".
I've heard you can use it on adverts. Imagine that?

May 20th

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Gina Bardi

we all think she probably killed her dad too, right?

May 12th

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Selina Grankowski

I'l

May 4th

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lil john

im going with her being a bitch who loves drama..lol..

May 3rd

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Heather Boylen

she remains a garbage person to this day! Haha, that is the best description of a woman I know and despise. I can't wait to call my best friend and share that description with her.

May 3rd

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Shannon Hayes

I really loved your podcast.... until you brought up politics. Goodbye

Apr 29th

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Alex Bryant

so in you opinion no matter what believe the woman? when there have been many cases of false accusations? wow no proof necessary just believe the woman.

Apr 28th

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Alex Bryant

Alex Bryant but there are many well known cases so no you can't just believe and put someone in prison with no evidence.

May 13th

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Claire S

Alex Bryant Only 23% of women even report it. So there are not "enough" that are false. Do some research. Everything should be investigated, but women aren't believed so they rarely come forward.

May 4th

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Sarah Tabor

I love this show. But 8 mins in and theres already been 3 commercials? This is ridiculous...

Apr 17th

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Felicia DeLappi

HURRAY!!! This is great news!!

Apr 9th

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John White

This podcast has too many opinions in it. Political and social opinions. The opinions are left leaning as well. I would rather keep politics out of podcasts that are not geared toward politics. The narrator hates pretty much anything white, Rich, corporate or male.

Apr 3rd

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Kymmjellybean

1. Once an abuser, always an abuser. 2. If you suspect he is hiding something from you, he is. 3. Men who cry "I'm sorry", aren't. 4. You cannot change someone.

Mar 29th

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Lestyloo

I really don't like listening to your 'take' throughout the series. 'Just the facts please ma'am.. Are you biased against men? I like your steady voice but please just tell the facts, your input equates to gossip. as it's not fact or evidence

Mar 22nd

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Erica Kelley

Nah. I hate rapists and murders. Triggered much?

Mar 22nd

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Jason Wilson

Terrible. She hates men. Especially white men

Mar 20th

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Erica Kelley

Jason Wilson Nah. Just rapists and murderers. Does that apply to you? If not, I don’t really understand this comment.

Mar 22nd

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Alicia Campbell Lee

That was insane.... that dude was pure evil.... I feel sorry for those little kids.....very well told you had me hanging on every word!

Mar 20th

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Gina Bardi

thank you for this. your righteous indignation was refreshing and much welcomed.

Mar 13th

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Shutupandgivememurder

Jesus this host hates men

Mar 11th

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Erica Kelley

Shutupandgivememurder Yup. I hate white rapists and murders. Is that you?